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Dumarest of Terra #33
Child of Earth: The Dumarest Saga Book 33
There should have been soft breezes scented with entrancing perfumes, the soothing warmth of a golden sun, lakes of wine and mountains of grain, trees adorned with fruit and bud and flower, shrubs bearing a profusion of glittering gems. Herbs and spices to provide freedom from pain, a return to youthful zest, an end of aging and decay. Salves and ointments and natural fungi to cure all physical ills. . . For this was Earth, that planet of legend, the paradise for which all yearned and hungered to find. The world of joy and beauty and riches beyond the wildest dreams. Instead Earl Dumarest found a landscape of unremitting hostility. Could this really be the fabled home world for which he had spent his entire life searching . . . ? (First published 2008)
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2008
11 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
E.C. Tubb
383 books85 followersEdwin Charles Tubb was a writer of science fiction, fantasy and western novels. He published over 140 novels and 230 short stories and novellas, and is best known for The Dumarest Saga (US collective title: Dumarest of Terra) an epic science-fiction saga set in the far future.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
Much of Tubb's work has been written under pseudonyms including Gregory Kern, Carl Maddox, Alan Guthrie, Eric Storm and George Holt. He has used 58 pen names over five decades of writing although some of these were publishers' house names also used by other writers: Volsted Gridban (along with John Russell Fearn), Gill Hunt (with John Brunner and Dennis Hughes), King Lang (with George Hay and John W Jennison), Roy Sheldon (with H. J. Campbell) and Brian Shaw. Tubb's Charles Grey alias was solely his own and acquired a big following in the early 1950s.
An avid reader of pulp science-fiction and fantasy in his youth, Tubb found that he had a particular talent as a writer of stories in that genre when his short story 'No Short Cuts' was published in New Worlds magazine in 1951. He opted for a full-time career as a writer and soon became renowned for the speed and diversity of his output.
Tubb contributed to many of the science fiction magazines of the 1950s including Futuristic Science Stories, Science Fantasy, Nebula and Galaxy Science Fiction. He contributed heavily to Authentic Science Fiction editing the magazine for nearly two years, from February 1956 until it folded in October 1957. During this time, he found it so difficult to find good writers to contribute to the magazine, that he often wrote most of the stories himself under a variety of pseudonyms: one issue of Authentic was written entirely by Tubb, including the letters column.
His main work in the science fiction genre, the Dumarest series, appeared from 1967 to 1985, with two final volumes in 1997 and 2008. His second major series, the Cap Kennedy series, was written from 1973 to 1983.
In recent years Tubb updated many of his 1950s science fiction novels for 21st century readers.
Tubb was one of the co-founders of the British Science Fiction Association.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 30, 2026
Not what I was expecting. Rather than tackling the series' lingering mysteries, Child of Earth turns inward, shedding light on Dumarest's past. The novel places him in a strange realm of dreams and illusion, where a superior being manipulates him for unclear reasons and forces him to relive pivotal moments from his youth. Through these memories, we see how his core survival and combat instincts were forged. It makes for engaging backstory, but I still came away disappointed not to get more closure.
I quite enjoyed this series. Formulaic to an extent for sure, but pulpy fun, full of adventure and strange new worlds and people to explore in each book. The primary story arc which runs through the series - Earl's search for the lost Earth and his pursuit by the diabolical Cyclan - helps tie all the stories together, making the whole greater than the sum of its parts, and providing a compelling motivation to complete them.
I quite enjoyed this series. Formulaic to an extent for sure, but pulpy fun, full of adventure and strange new worlds and people to explore in each book. The primary story arc which runs through the series - Earl's search for the lost Earth and his pursuit by the diabolical Cyclan - helps tie all the stories together, making the whole greater than the sum of its parts, and providing a compelling motivation to complete them.
February 13, 2026
This is the fourth time I read the Dumarest of Terra series and it gave me as much pleasure as the first time. In a sense the books are timeless although the stories have an atmosphere of SF&F of the sixties of the last century. The stories also remind me of the writings of Jack Vance, one of my favourite writers.
Earl Dumarest is a space traveller that roams the galaxy after leaving his home planet Earth. Stowed away and the captain was more than kind (one of the many repetitive sentences in the books). At first he travels a lot ‘low’ (doped, frozen, ninety percent dead, risking a fifteen percent death rate) and he drinks al lot of Basic (rich in protein, sickly in glucose, laced with vitamins, tart with citrus) but later mostly ‘high’ with slow-time to make the journey seems shorter.
He always wears grey plastic travellers clothing with a metal mesh buried beneath it. Boots with an nine-inch knife (polished and honed) riding high in it. His luck (none of it bad) is abundant and also his attraction to women who all see a -real- man in him and want to give him strong sons (Oh, I love you so much, promise to never leave me...). These women always seem to be damsels in distress that have to be rescued by him. Which he does of course because they all have luscious bodies with high firm breasts, long legs and curved buttocks (Tubb has a way with describing the better attractions of women). He likes to drink tisane and eats loads of cakes. He is able to be among high born people but also the be among the scum of lowtown. He is compassionate and honest. But also can be ruthless. A person that has learned early to rely on himself.
After many years of travel, he wants to return to his home planet and finds that it no longer seem to exist. This quest of finding earth is the base of the 33 volumes. The hunt for earth would would have simple but he comes in possession of a secret of the Cyclan, a cult of human computers who have the domination of the galaxy as a mission. Hunted by them the searching for clues is somewhat difficult but due to his luck he always manages to get away and, as an added bonus, killing the cyber that almost has him.
The books are easy reading. Despite the repeating themes and plots they still manage to entertain. I like the anthropology of new planets, races and customs. During the series the Cyclan gets more background which enhances the story. Also the plot evolves during the series. At first there are more day to day events and problems to solve. Later in the series the books get more of a detective flavour and some of them would make an excellent action move (e.g. The temple of truth).
It may be no secret that eventually Dumarest finds his precious earth. Although the last volume fills some missing gaps about the early years of Earl, it also dissapointed me. Too much conversation. And no clue on how the Cyclan managed to solve the problem of the degenerating brains of the Cybers and what the real (if any) function of the Church of the Brotherhood is. But it has an open ending so maybe...
If you like mid-twentieth century Science Fiction with lots of strange planets and people and action packed stories then this might just be the right reading for you. This is one of the few books I still have in paper and I am sure that I will keep rereading it every couple of years.
Earl Dumarest is a space traveller that roams the galaxy after leaving his home planet Earth. Stowed away and the captain was more than kind (one of the many repetitive sentences in the books). At first he travels a lot ‘low’ (doped, frozen, ninety percent dead, risking a fifteen percent death rate) and he drinks al lot of Basic (rich in protein, sickly in glucose, laced with vitamins, tart with citrus) but later mostly ‘high’ with slow-time to make the journey seems shorter.
He always wears grey plastic travellers clothing with a metal mesh buried beneath it. Boots with an nine-inch knife (polished and honed) riding high in it. His luck (none of it bad) is abundant and also his attraction to women who all see a -real- man in him and want to give him strong sons (Oh, I love you so much, promise to never leave me...). These women always seem to be damsels in distress that have to be rescued by him. Which he does of course because they all have luscious bodies with high firm breasts, long legs and curved buttocks (Tubb has a way with describing the better attractions of women). He likes to drink tisane and eats loads of cakes. He is able to be among high born people but also the be among the scum of lowtown. He is compassionate and honest. But also can be ruthless. A person that has learned early to rely on himself.
After many years of travel, he wants to return to his home planet and finds that it no longer seem to exist. This quest of finding earth is the base of the 33 volumes. The hunt for earth would would have simple but he comes in possession of a secret of the Cyclan, a cult of human computers who have the domination of the galaxy as a mission. Hunted by them the searching for clues is somewhat difficult but due to his luck he always manages to get away and, as an added bonus, killing the cyber that almost has him.
The books are easy reading. Despite the repeating themes and plots they still manage to entertain. I like the anthropology of new planets, races and customs. During the series the Cyclan gets more background which enhances the story. Also the plot evolves during the series. At first there are more day to day events and problems to solve. Later in the series the books get more of a detective flavour and some of them would make an excellent action move (e.g. The temple of truth).
It may be no secret that eventually Dumarest finds his precious earth. Although the last volume fills some missing gaps about the early years of Earl, it also dissapointed me. Too much conversation. And no clue on how the Cyclan managed to solve the problem of the degenerating brains of the Cybers and what the real (if any) function of the Church of the Brotherhood is. But it has an open ending so maybe...
If you like mid-twentieth century Science Fiction with lots of strange planets and people and action packed stories then this might just be the right reading for you. This is one of the few books I still have in paper and I am sure that I will keep rereading it every couple of years.
January 24, 2018
The last book of the series. And what could one expect? For one thing a couple of flashbacks where we learn more about Earl’s past. So men on Earth were somehow special and that is why the Cyclan had Earth isolated. Why really, I did not understand. But who cares? Well written and thoroughly enjoyed. (9/10)
February 29, 2020
2020 grade F
Series book # D33.
The book described the situation as "Smoke and Mirrors" during the story and that is accurate. It is a combination of abstract illusion and flashbacks. Whether the flashbacks were new material or not, I do not know or care. It is only at the very end, that the protagonist (Dumarest) breaks the spell. Even after that there is no description of earth.
Then there are technical questions. If it was all illusion, who captured Dumarest and burned the crashed ship and crew? Was there a crash at all? Was the terrain snow and ice covered? Is he ever out of the illusion, even at the end?
I did not abandoned the book but it was difficult to read even with heavy speed reading.
NOT recommended even to Dumarest fans who want to know how the story ended.
Series book # D33.
The book described the situation as "Smoke and Mirrors" during the story and that is accurate. It is a combination of abstract illusion and flashbacks. Whether the flashbacks were new material or not, I do not know or care. It is only at the very end, that the protagonist (Dumarest) breaks the spell. Even after that there is no description of earth.
Then there are technical questions. If it was all illusion, who captured Dumarest and burned the crashed ship and crew? Was there a crash at all? Was the terrain snow and ice covered? Is he ever out of the illusion, even at the end?
I did not abandoned the book but it was difficult to read even with heavy speed reading.
NOT recommended even to Dumarest fans who want to know how the story ended.
December 26, 2019
I have been following Dumarest's exploits since the Nineteen Seventies, testament to which is a long line of brightly coloured paperback spines in one of my bookcases. They comprise mostly of the Nineteen Seventies and Eighties Arrow editions, with a couple of gaps.
I approached the final volume, in a kindle format unimagined when I began this journey, with a sense of trepidation. This is the thirty third book in the Dumarest series; an astounding achievement for any author, but more so for Tubb, whose literary output was prolific outside of this lengthy saga, written over five decades.
I am currently attempting a retreading of this path, to fill in the gaps where I skipped a couple of volumes and gain a better perspective of the whole thing, but whether I will complete the mission is debatable.
Here, Dumarest, having finally discovered the long lost planet Earth where he was born, is stranded, his ship having been shot down to the planet by the Cyclan.
Despite the fact that the saga is late dystopic pulp fiction Space Opera, the Cyclan are in my view one of the best evil nemesi ever created.
The Cyclan are an organisation of humans who have had their emotional responses removed and can therefore gain satisfaction only from cold logical deduction of future events, based on analysis of the relevant data. Tubb himself has described them as basically Star Trek Vulcans, albeit far less altruistic and totally ruthless. They flounce about in long scarlet capes and are hired as advisors by rich clients and planetary governments, over which the Cyclan subsequently wield insidious control.
As a reader, there's something quite seductive about them, although that may just be the long hooded scarlet capes. I'd love one but sadly, I am not tall enough to pull it off. I suspect the Cyclan have minimum height requirements.
The survivors of the ship are attacked and rendered unconscious and Dumarest awakens to find himself an unwilling guest of Shandaga, a mysterious figure who wishes to examines Dumarest's memories to amuse himself.
In this sense, this finale is an attempt to tell the story of how Dumarest became Dumarest, taking us full circle to his childhood and how he left Earth to travel the galaxy.
The book is based on two short stories published shortly before, although I suspect Tubb hedged his bets here and planned further episodes since the denouement is left fairly open ended.
As a finale it is fascinating but a little disappointing, not least because there is not a scarlet robe to be seen, and one would like to see the Cyclan defeated, despite their cutting edge interplanetary fashion statements.
However, it would be churlish to criticise an author who was writing presumably up until his death at the age of 90.
A TV series 'Dumarest of Terra' was announced in 2017, covering the first few novels, but nothing of this has been reported as at 2019.
I approached the final volume, in a kindle format unimagined when I began this journey, with a sense of trepidation. This is the thirty third book in the Dumarest series; an astounding achievement for any author, but more so for Tubb, whose literary output was prolific outside of this lengthy saga, written over five decades.
I am currently attempting a retreading of this path, to fill in the gaps where I skipped a couple of volumes and gain a better perspective of the whole thing, but whether I will complete the mission is debatable.
Here, Dumarest, having finally discovered the long lost planet Earth where he was born, is stranded, his ship having been shot down to the planet by the Cyclan.
Despite the fact that the saga is late dystopic pulp fiction Space Opera, the Cyclan are in my view one of the best evil nemesi ever created.
The Cyclan are an organisation of humans who have had their emotional responses removed and can therefore gain satisfaction only from cold logical deduction of future events, based on analysis of the relevant data. Tubb himself has described them as basically Star Trek Vulcans, albeit far less altruistic and totally ruthless. They flounce about in long scarlet capes and are hired as advisors by rich clients and planetary governments, over which the Cyclan subsequently wield insidious control.
As a reader, there's something quite seductive about them, although that may just be the long hooded scarlet capes. I'd love one but sadly, I am not tall enough to pull it off. I suspect the Cyclan have minimum height requirements.
The survivors of the ship are attacked and rendered unconscious and Dumarest awakens to find himself an unwilling guest of Shandaga, a mysterious figure who wishes to examines Dumarest's memories to amuse himself.
In this sense, this finale is an attempt to tell the story of how Dumarest became Dumarest, taking us full circle to his childhood and how he left Earth to travel the galaxy.
The book is based on two short stories published shortly before, although I suspect Tubb hedged his bets here and planned further episodes since the denouement is left fairly open ended.
As a finale it is fascinating but a little disappointing, not least because there is not a scarlet robe to be seen, and one would like to see the Cyclan defeated, despite their cutting edge interplanetary fashion statements.
However, it would be churlish to criticise an author who was writing presumably up until his death at the age of 90.
A TV series 'Dumarest of Terra' was announced in 2017, covering the first few novels, but nothing of this has been reported as at 2019.
December 11, 2012
The final volume of the Dumarest saga. Dumarest has crashed on earth. This book is clearly not the end of Tubb's ideas about where Dumarest would go and what he would do. To return home was not enough. The series feels unfinished for this reason and although a wonderfully written book given Tubb's age it leaves one feeling profoundly dissatisfied.
February 21, 2026
Ah, so this is the end. `Tis bitter-sweet, as our intrepid hero has been my constant companion for the last 210 days. But alas, it's time to move on, as our boy wonder not only found his was back home (in the last novel, a somewhat unfair cliff-hanger'y pseudo-but-not-really-finish of the series), but also manages to escape from one of the toughest traps he'd ever faced (in this, the really real finish of the series).
This book provided via flashbacks a true origin story of Mr Dumarest -- from his days as a semi-feral youngster, to touching upon the time aboard his very first ship, to him learning how to fight & fuck and survive in a merciless galaxy. Even his beloved 9" knife gets in on the origin story act here.
A few spoiler-esqe observations, if you will......
Some pretty heady concepts here that the author could have ran with if he wanted to truly give this book a huge patented "Big Finish!", as it were.
But for whatever reason¹, the author not only didn't explore or expand on any of those deeper themes, but also left some series significant threads twisting loose in the wind². Notably:
It feels like the author just didn't have enough gas in his tank to truly wrap everything up neatly. OR... the publisher put their foot down and needed the author to keep to the Dumarest series standard of less than 200 pages, start to finish. Thus, this was the best he could do to give our hero a final hug and fond farewell.
Even with the optimistic open-ended finale³, and what feels like some missed opportunities to pack this final send-off with a bit more epic-ness, I still found this to be a highly satisfying conclusion to the series.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for a lark. Farewell, Earl Dumarest. It's been a blast!
-------------
¹ Maybe good ol' fashioned writers' exhaustion? After all, at the time this was written, the author was 89 years old.
2 The Winds of Gath, get it? :)
³ Based on the pulpy theme of the entire series, it almost seems a little wrong that our man-tastic hunky hero now rides off into the sunset without a beautiful damsel hanging on his arm lol.
This book provided via flashbacks a true origin story of Mr Dumarest -- from his days as a semi-feral youngster, to touching upon the time aboard his very first ship, to him learning how to fight & fuck and survive in a merciless galaxy. Even his beloved 9" knife gets in on the origin story act here.
A few spoiler-esqe observations, if you will......
Some pretty heady concepts here that the author could have ran with if he wanted to truly give this book a huge patented "Big Finish!", as it were.
But for whatever reason¹, the author not only didn't explore or expand on any of those deeper themes, but also left some series significant threads twisting loose in the wind². Notably:
It feels like the author just didn't have enough gas in his tank to truly wrap everything up neatly. OR... the publisher put their foot down and needed the author to keep to the Dumarest series standard of less than 200 pages, start to finish. Thus, this was the best he could do to give our hero a final hug and fond farewell.
Even with the optimistic open-ended finale³, and what feels like some missed opportunities to pack this final send-off with a bit more epic-ness, I still found this to be a highly satisfying conclusion to the series.
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 for a lark. Farewell, Earl Dumarest. It's been a blast!
-------------
¹ Maybe good ol' fashioned writers' exhaustion? After all, at the time this was written, the author was 89 years old.
2 The Winds of Gath, get it? :)
³ Based on the pulpy theme of the entire series, it almost seems a little wrong that our man-tastic hunky hero now rides off into the sunset without a beautiful damsel hanging on his arm lol.
March 7, 2026
As with many of the later Earth Dumarest books, this one carries straight on from the last: At the end on The Return #32 Dumarest and his party had crashed onto the surface of Earth and here we start in the crashed spaceship.
Some died, some are injured and some intact, but as some strange phenomena on the surface of the planet stalks their sentries at night and as the crew grumble against Dumarest and plan to eliminate him a fantastical scenario is brewing.
Eventually Dumarest and one friend from the ship find themselves in a luxuriant dwelling, but completely isolated from the harsh, lifeless surface of Earth. One man rules in this domain of sparkling emerald wines (with a beautiful woman for each of the men, of course) and his price for 'saving Dumarest and Chagal is that they share their memories with him in a direct mind to mind bond that wrings the subject dry.
Described within the book itself as 'smoke and mirrors' Dumarest senses a subtle danger of a sort he has never -quite- encountered before.
This is an unusual book for this series, in many ways less action packed than most. It is the one that gives backstory to Dumarest, which has been hinted throughout the series, but never laid out as tightly as this before, It is also a chance to look back over the series and mention some highlights of evens - Such as from The Winds of Gath, the first in the series - and some of the individuals and experiences. But never the events leading to him acquiring the secret the Cyclan crave and that is the key that Dumarest uses to unlock the smoke and the mirrors.
An excellent book, a graceful conclusion that leaves so many horizons open for future adventures that will sadly never be written by E C Tubb who passed away in 2010, just two years after this was published for the first time. I guess we will have to imagine those adventures for ourselves, how Dumarest rallies the men and women of Earth to win their freedom for the Cyclan.
Some died, some are injured and some intact, but as some strange phenomena on the surface of the planet stalks their sentries at night and as the crew grumble against Dumarest and plan to eliminate him a fantastical scenario is brewing.
Eventually Dumarest and one friend from the ship find themselves in a luxuriant dwelling, but completely isolated from the harsh, lifeless surface of Earth. One man rules in this domain of sparkling emerald wines (with a beautiful woman for each of the men, of course) and his price for 'saving Dumarest and Chagal is that they share their memories with him in a direct mind to mind bond that wrings the subject dry.
Described within the book itself as 'smoke and mirrors' Dumarest senses a subtle danger of a sort he has never -quite- encountered before.
This is an unusual book for this series, in many ways less action packed than most. It is the one that gives backstory to Dumarest, which has been hinted throughout the series, but never laid out as tightly as this before, It is also a chance to look back over the series and mention some highlights of evens - Such as from The Winds of Gath, the first in the series - and some of the individuals and experiences. But never the events leading to him acquiring the secret the Cyclan crave and that is the key that Dumarest uses to unlock the smoke and the mirrors.
An excellent book, a graceful conclusion that leaves so many horizons open for future adventures that will sadly never be written by E C Tubb who passed away in 2010, just two years after this was published for the first time. I guess we will have to imagine those adventures for ourselves, how Dumarest rallies the men and women of Earth to win their freedom for the Cyclan.
May 8, 2023
Vaguely disappointed with this, the real final volume of the Dumarest Saga (as opposed to vol. 32 The Return which, when published, was billed as the final volume).
Child Of Earth sees Dumarest having survived the cliffhanger ending of The Return, but with no concrete explanation of how, and he's now - finally - back on the planet of his birth. "Rescued" by a mysterious benefactor who can somehow experience Dumarest's memories, we are shown flashbacks which fill in events from his early years traversing the galaxy. And that's about it...
...the benefactor isn't what he seems but, once again, the book ends without ending Dumarest's story. Admittedly, in the detailed introduction - which provides a biography of Tubb and a history of the series - it is mentioned that the plan was to continue with stories of Dumarest on Earth, but they never came to pass.
I'm glad I read/re-read this series. I guess I'm just a little upset that it kind of faded away.
Child Of Earth sees Dumarest having survived the cliffhanger ending of The Return, but with no concrete explanation of how, and he's now - finally - back on the planet of his birth. "Rescued" by a mysterious benefactor who can somehow experience Dumarest's memories, we are shown flashbacks which fill in events from his early years traversing the galaxy. And that's about it...
...the benefactor isn't what he seems but, once again, the book ends without ending Dumarest's story. Admittedly, in the detailed introduction - which provides a biography of Tubb and a history of the series - it is mentioned that the plan was to continue with stories of Dumarest on Earth, but they never came to pass.
I'm glad I read/re-read this series. I guess I'm just a little upset that it kind of faded away.
July 27, 2022
A decent series entry, but overall this struck me as a bit of a disappointing conclusion for the Dumarest saga.
Without getting into spoilers, it was interesting to have the final volume incorporate a bit of an "origin story" approach. But with the series' lengthy arc of pursuits, escapes, and conflicts (and the particularly good story line of The Return), I was expecting more from the concluding volume in regard to the recurring themes of the series.
Instead, we get what felt more like a "checking the boxes" approach where Child of Earth summarily touches on the themes and incidents of the series in a volume that felt shorter than the normal Dumarest tale.
The Dumarest series is overall a worthwhile read - best series I have completed next to the original Tarzan novels - but don't expect a wrap up that delivers on the 32 volume setup.
Without getting into spoilers, it was interesting to have the final volume incorporate a bit of an "origin story" approach. But with the series' lengthy arc of pursuits, escapes, and conflicts (and the particularly good story line of The Return), I was expecting more from the concluding volume in regard to the recurring themes of the series.
Instead, we get what felt more like a "checking the boxes" approach where Child of Earth summarily touches on the themes and incidents of the series in a volume that felt shorter than the normal Dumarest tale.
The Dumarest series is overall a worthwhile read - best series I have completed next to the original Tarzan novels - but don't expect a wrap up that delivers on the 32 volume setup.
May 3, 2020
First, my thanks to Kindle for making Tubb's final installment available for a mere 4 bucks. Particularly when used print copies are going today for $175 and up on Amazon.
Then to explain what Liedzeit says at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... that they missed:
And finally to say that I expected a more powerful effect, based on my memories of the preceding books of the Saga. But memory can be deceptive, and I'm allow my full 5-stars for hitting the apparent target,
Then to explain what Liedzeit says at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... that they missed:
And finally to say that I expected a more powerful effect, based on my memories of the preceding books of the Saga. But memory can be deceptive, and I'm allow my full 5-stars for hitting the apparent target,
November 25, 2016
An ending and a resolution. It has been a long haul and I confess the last bit has been hard going. It has been, however, a unique series.
July 14, 2014
A compelling and satisfying finale to an enormous 33 novel space opera saga I've been reading on and off for over 20 years. Particularly the final paragraph which hint at a new even more reckless endeavour to follow as a consequence of Dumarest's relentless, all consuming and often unintentionally destructive ambition. Dumarest is a worthy peer to protagonists such as Edmond Dantes, Gully Foyle and Simoun the Jeweler, now confronting similar moral hazards.
March 22, 2014
Enjoyed this wrap up of the dumerest saga. Was not over done and felt like a good way to conclude it.
I read the kindle version, which was available at a 'normal' price - after years of wanting to read how he finished it.
I read the kindle version, which was available at a 'normal' price - after years of wanting to read how he finished it.
July 8, 2014
Finally, a denouement
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews